Sychra, Josef Cyrill 03/12/1859 - 08/21/1935

Josef Cyrill Sychra was born on 12 Mar 1859 in Ústí nad Orlicí. He received musical training from his father Václav. He graduated from the organ school of prof. František Skuherský in Prague. During his studies he gained practical musical experience as a bassist and organist in the Emmaus monastery. 1879-82 he was organist and conductor of the choir (1882-89) in Stará Boleslav. He led the Václav and Bojan choral societies. Between 1889 and 1923 he worked as a choir director in Mladá Boleslav and also taught at grammar schools. He was the head of the Boleslav Choral Society and ran his own private music school. At that time he was considered to be the best living composer of the church. In 1930 he was awarded the papal knighthood of the Order of St. Gregory the Great. Holder of the gold medal Cs. Village singing. He devoted himself very much to composing and left 450 works which were mainly dedicated to church music and choral singing. He died on August 21, 1935, in Stará Boleslav. From the work: Popular organ school, autobiographical memories of a Czech musician, songbook for grammar schools.